Women cocoa farmers in Ondo State have called on the federal and state governments to guarantee their inclusion in the African Cocoa Agenda 2063, citing limited access to financial support, training, and decision-making platforms.
The call was made during a stakeholder engagement in Ile-Oluji on Friday, organised by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) and the Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA). The event focused on enhancing the role of women in the cocoa value chain and ensuring they are actively involved in policy and investment decisions.
Speaking at the meeting, Mrs. Akinbusola Morohunmubo, leader of the AWITA Cocoa Cluster in Ile-Oluji, said women play vital roles throughout the cocoa production process, from planting to post-harvest activities, but are often overlooked when it comes to support systems and training.
“We are central to cocoa farming in the Southwest, yet we are sidelined in policy spaces,” she said. “If Nigeria is serious about the African Cocoa Agenda 2063, then women must not just be included, but supported meaningfully.”
The dRPC’s Head of Research and Analysis, Mr. Kareem Abdulrazak, explained that the African Cocoa Agenda 2063, developed under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 framework, seeks to make cocoa farming across the continent more sustainable, inclusive, and profitable. He stressed that for Nigeria to benefit, women must be positioned as stakeholders, not just labourers.
“This is a long-term continental vision,” he said. “If women are left out, the transformation we seek in the sector cannot be achieved.”
Also speaking, AWITA’s National President, Mrs. Ruth Agbo, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to working with governments and NGOs to build a sustainable future for women in agriculture. “Women’s economic empowerment is not optional—it’s a driver of national development,” she said.
As part of their advocacy, the dRPC-AWITA team also met with officials from the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to push for inclusive cocoa policy frameworks at the state level.
The women farmers are urging authorities to prioritise access to credit, modern training techniques, and formal representation in all cocoa development initiatives under the African Cocoa Agenda 2063.
